Dynamic production system management

ABSTRACT

Data about operation of a well for extracting a product from the subterranean reservoir and at least one of a characteristic of a subterranean reservoir or operation of a processing and transport system upstream of a point of sale is received. A corrective action can be automatically initiated on at least one of the well or the processing and transport system in response to a difference between the received data and a specified operational objective. An adjustment to a model of the reservoir, the well, and the processing and transporting system can be automatically initiated in response to the received data.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/760,708, filed Jan. 20, 2006.

BACKGROUND

This description relates to management of production of subterraneanreservoirs.

Traditionally, subterranean reservoirs and the systems for recovering,processing and transporting the resources recovered from the reservoirsto a point of sale have been under realized, because of inefficienciesin management stemming from fragmentation, in time and communication, ofcurrent and historic data about the reservoirs and systems, expertinterpretation, decision-making and executive actions. The fragmentationin time and communication results not only in losses, but failure toachieve enhancement opportunities. Furthermore, although some productionsubsystems may be regularly monitored for opportunities to mitigate lossor enhance their operation, the fragmentation commonly experiencedprevents accounting for the impacts of discovered or experienced lossesor the initiation of actions taken to mitigate the loss or realize theenhancement on the overall production system. Optimization studiesconsistently demonstrate that significant and subsequent optimization ofproduction and operational efficiencies are achievable and indicate aninherent inability of those systems to sustain effective operation ofthe upstream production system.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes, generally, illustrative systems andmethods for managing production of subterranean reservoirs, includingupstream production systems.

One aspect encompasses a method where data about operation of a well forextracting a product from the subterranean reservoir and at least one ofa characteristic of a subterranean reservoir or operation of aprocessing and transport system upstream of a point of sale is received.A corrective action is initiated on at least one of the well or theprocessing and transport system in response to a difference between thereceived data and a specified operational objective. In certaininstances, an article comprising a machine-readable medium storesinstructions operable to cause one or more machines to perform theoperations including the method. In certain instances, a system havingat least one processor and at least one memory coupled to the at leastone processor stores instructions operable to cause the at least oneprocessor to perform operations including the method.

Another aspect encompasses a method where data about operation of a wellfor extracting a product from a subterranean reservoir and at least oneof a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir or operation of aprocessing and transport system upstream of a point of sale prior to arefinery is received. Using the data and a model of the well, thesubterranean reservoir and the processing and transport system, acorrective action to at least one of the well or the processing andtransport system in relation to a specified operational objective isautomatically determined. A corrective action to at least one of thewell, a gathering system of the processing and transport system or aproduction facility of the processing and transport system. In certaininstances, an article comprising a machine-readable medium storesinstructions operable to cause one or more machines to perform theoperations including the method. In certain instances, a system havingat least one processor and at least one memory coupled to the at leaston processor stores instructions operable to cause the at least oneprocessor to perform operations including the method.

Another aspect encompasses a method where data about operation of a wellfor extracting a product from the subterranean reservoir and at leastone of a characteristic of a subterranean reservoir or operation of aprocessing and transport system upstream of a point of sale is received.An adjustment to a model of the reservoir, the well, and the processingand transporting system is automatically initiated in response to thereceived data. In certain instances, an article comprising amachine-readable medium stores instructions operable to cause one ormore machines to perform the operations including the method. In certaininstances, a system having at least one processor and at least onememory coupled to the at least one processor stores instructionsoperable to cause the at least one processor to perform operationsincluding the method.

Certain aspects include one or more of the following features. Theoperational objective includes at least one of product sales rate or aproduct production rate. The processing and transport system includes aproduction facility for processing the product upstream of a refinery orgathering system for transporting the product from the well to the pointof sale. Automatically initiating a corrective action on the productionfacility includes at least one of initiating an adjustment to an amountof a flow supplied to a separator, an adjustment to the pressure of aflow supplied to the separator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flowsupplied to a separator, an adjustment to an amount of a flow suppliedto a dehydrator, an adjustment to the pressure of a flow supplied to thedehydrator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied to adehydrator, an adjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, anadjustment to a flow control device, an adjustment to a compressor, anadjustment to a pump, an adjustment to a heater, an adjustment to acooler, or an adjustment to a fluid level. Automatically initiating acorrective action on the gathering system includes at least one ofinitiating an adjustment to an amount of a flow through a pipe, anadjustment to a pressure of a flow supplied through a pipe, anadjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied through a pipe, anadjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, an adjustment to a flowcontrol device, an adjustment to a compressor, an adjustment to a pump,an adjustment to a heater, and an adjustment to a cooler. Automaticallyinitiating a corrective action on the well includes initiating anadjustment to at least one of a production rate from the well or aninjection rate to the well. Automatically determining the correctiveaction is performed using a model of the subterranean reservoir, thewell and the processing and transport system. The model comprises atleast one of a first principal model, a proxy model, or a derived model.An adjustment to the model is automatically initiated in response to thereceived data. The data about a characteristic of the subterraneanreservoir includes at least one of seismic data, geologic data or logdata. The data about operation of the well includes at least one of flowrate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosityor actuator state. The data about operation of the processing andtransport system includes at least one of flow rate, pressure,temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosity or actuatorstate. Receiving data includes receiving the data in real time.Automatically initiating a corrective action includes automaticallyinitiating a corrective action in real time. Operations can includeautomatically initiating a corrective action on at least one of the wellor the processing and transport system, the corrective action determinedusing the adjusted model. Adjusting the model comprises adjusting themodel in real time.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description anddrawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bar chart that graphically represents a hierarchy ofproduction deferments typically experienced between a potentialproduction attainable from subterranean reservoirs and the actualproduction attained from the reservoirs as potentials and defermentgaps.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an illustrative production managementsystem operating on an upstream production system.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of an illustrative upstream productionsystem operated by the illustrative management system of FIG. 2A

FIG. 3A is a block diagram depicting certain sub-elements of theillustrative production management system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram depicting alternate sub-elements of theillustrative production management system of FIG. 2.A.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an illustrative automated productionoperations workflow of the illustrative production management system ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting operation of the illustrativeproduction management system of FIG. 2A in determining upstreamproduction system potentials and deferment gaps

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an illustrative automated model update ofthe illustrative production management system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting operation of an illustrativeorchestrated production operations work flow of the illustrativeproduction management system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram depicting operation of an illustrativeorchestrated production loss reporting work flow of the illustrativeproduction management system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram depicting operation of an illustrativeorchestrated maintenance work flow of the illustrative productionmanagement system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram depicting operation of an illustrativeorchestrated production management work flow of the productionmanagement system of FIG. 2A.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate similar or likeelements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes managing an upstream production system,including some illustrative examples of systems and methods therefore.As used herein, an upstream production system encompasses one or moresubterranean reservoirs having one or more hydrocarbon producingformations therein, the wells used in extracting the hydrocarbons andother fluids (the “product”) and by-products from the reservoirs, andthe processing and transport system for processing and moving theproduct from the reservoirs to a point of sale. The point of sale neednot be marked by a conventional sale for consideration, but canencompass other transfers, including intra-company transfers of control.The upstream production system may include reservoirs that span acrossmultiple leases, concessions or other legal, governmental or physicalboundaries, and can encompass reservoirs, wells, and processing andtransport systems owned, controlled or operated by one or more than onecompany or legal entity. The wells for extracting the product and theprocessing and transport system for processing and moving the productcan include one or more of offshore or onshore installations. In certaininstances, the product comprises crude oil, natural gas and/or liquefiednatural gas.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the subterranean reservoirs of the upstreamproduction system contain a finite amount of products. For a variety ofreasons, however, not all of the products can or will be produced fromthe subterranean reservoirs. Stated differently, a portion of thepotential production of products is deferred. The bar chart in FIG. 1graphically represents the hierarchy of the production deferments aspotentials and deferment gaps. The finite amount of reachable productscontained within the subterranean reservoirs define the reservoirpotential 102 (i.e. the upstream production systems potential productionand ultimate level of recovery achievable). Some example classes ofdeferments of production are discussed below.

One deferment of production, a field development gap 104, derives fromthe installation of wells and other infrastructure to the subterraneanreservoirs that may not be capable of producing all of the finite amountof reachable products in the subterranean reservoirs. For example, indesigning the installation of wells and infrastructure, one may balancethe cost against the value of the production that is expected to beobtained from the subterranean reservoirs. In many instances, it may notbe financially feasible to install the wells and infrastructurenecessary to extract all of the reachable products. Further, additionalfactors, such as economic factors, political factors, availability ofequipment and materials, availability of personnel and other factors,may contribute to an implementation that is not capable of extractingall of the reachable products. Additionally, a specified design may beless than fully implemented during some portions of the operations. Forexample, it is likely infeasible to complete all of the wells andinfrastructure that will be used in extracting products from thereservoirs at the same point in time. The design may also dictate astaged installation of the wells and infrastructure, as well as a stagedplan for producing the formations of the reservoirs. Therefore, when thereservoirs are less than fully developed and/or configured to producefrom less than all of the formations, even less of the reachableproducts can be extracted. The capability of the wells andinfrastructure to extract reachable products results in an installedpotential 106. Accordingly, the field development gap 104 develops as afunction of the difference between the upstream production systempotential 102 and the installed potential 106.

Another deferment of production, a performance gap 108, derives from thedegradation of operating performance of the one or more subterraneanreservoirs, the wells, and the processing and transport system. Forexample, over the life of a reservoir, the amount and the rate at whichthe products can be extracted changes, and typically decreases asreservoir conditions make extraction of products more difficult.Furthermore the product composition may change over the life of thereservoir. The amount of reachable and or viable products in thereservoir decreases, and easily reachable, viable products are depletedforcing production to turn to products that are more difficult to reach.Likewise, over the life of a well, its efficiency at extracting theproducts decreases as the conditions at the well bore change and theequipment and other hardware of the well lose performance (e.g. by wear,clogging, failure or other). These reservoir and well characteristicsare the cause of uncertainty inherent in upstream production operationsthat, in certain instances, are desirable to mitigate or respond to.Over the life of the processing and transport system, the efficiency inprocessing and moving products decreases as the equipment and otherhardware of the system lose performance (e.g. by wear, clogging, failureor other). The diminished or degraded operating performance of theupstream production system results in an available potential 110.Accordingly, the performance gap 108 develops as a function of thedifference between the installed potential 106 and the availablepotential 110.

Another deferment of production, an availability gap 112, derives fromthe lack of availability of equipment, materials, and personnelnecessary to achieve and maintain the available potential 110. Forexample, as the performance of equipment and/or the wells andinfrastructure degrades, it may reduce the operational efficiency of thewells and infrastructure or facilities. To recapture the loss inefficiency, the equipment may need adjustment, service or replacement,or the well may need to be worked over or decommissioned and re-drilledat another location. If the equipment, materials or personnel necessaryfor the adjustment, service or replacement are unavailable, the reducedefficiency will continue until such equipment, materials or personnelare available. Likewise, in a staged development plan, the rate at whichthe reservoir is further developed may be limited by the availability ofequipment, materials, and personnel. At any one time, there may bemultiple instances where the limited or unavailability of equipment,materials or personnel prevents attaining the available potential 110.The availability of equipment, materials and personnel results in anoperating potential 114. Accordingly, the availability gap 112 developsas a function of the difference between the available potential 110 andthe operating potential 114.

Another deferment of production, a capacity gap 116, derives from thefailure of the upstream production system, including the wells,processing and transport system, and components and equipment thereof tobe optimally set up or adjusted to achieve the operating potential 114.For example, as operational conditions change, the wells, processing andtransport system, and/or components and equipment thereof may need to beadjusted to optimally or near optimally compensate for the changes inthe conditions. Additionally, the actual operation of the wells,processing and transport system, and/or components equipment thereof maydiffer from the intended operation, such as, because of loss ofefficiency (e.g. by wear, clogging, failure or other) or because theexpected operation of the reservoirs, the wells, and/or the processingand transport system does not accurately represent the actual operation(e.g. because it was not initially modeled accurately or maintainedprecisely therefore or the assumptions incorporated into or derived fromthe model are outdated or otherwise incorrect). To achieve the intendedoperation, the wells and infrastructure, facilities, and/or equipmentthereof may need adjustment. The deferment and production attributableto the components and subcomponents of the upstream production systemnot being optimally set up or adjusted result in an actual production120. Accordingly, the capacity gap 116 develops as a function of thedifference between the operating potential 114 any actual production120.

The sum of the field development gap 104, performance gap 108,availability gap 112, and capacity gap 116 accounts for a total deferredor in certain instances lost production 118 between the actualproduction 120 and the upstream production system potential 102. Theillustrative systems and methods described herein operate, and in someinstances automatically operate, to reduce the performance gap 108,availability gap 112 and capacity gap 116 and increase, and in someinstances optimize, the available potential 110, the operating potential114, and actual production 122 and reduce the total deferred production118.

Turning now to FIG. 2A, an illustrative production management system 200is depicted in block diagram format. The illustrative system 200operates on an upstream production system, such as the illustrativeupstream production system 250 schematically depicted in FIG. 2B, tocontrol the upstream production system toward or to achieve one or moreoperational objectives. The illustrative production management system200 controls the upstream production system, in certain instances, byimplementing one or more corrective actions to work toward or achievethe one or more operational objectives. The operation of theillustrative production management system 200, and resulting control ofthe upstream production system 250, can be entirely automated or can bepartially automated. As will become apparent from the discussions below,in certain instances, the illustrative production management system 200can operate to analyze and initiate and/or execute corrective actions tothe upstream production system 250 and its operation continuously orsubstantially continuously, periodically at regular and/or irregularintervals, or sometimes continuously and sometimes periodically.Different aspects of the illustrative production management system 200can operate at different rates. In certain instances, some or all of thecorrective actions can be initiated and/or executed without substantialdelay from relevant operationally significant changes in the upstreamproduction system 250. In certain instances, some or all of thecorrective actions can be initiated and/or executed in real time,temporally proximate to relevant operationally significant changes inthe upstream production system 250.

In certain instances the operational objectives can include one or moreof a specified upstream production system value objective, a specifiedproduction volume, a specified production characteristic, a specifiedsystem utilization, a specified operational uptime/availability, aspecified maintenance efficiency, a specified environmental emissions,legislative compliance objective or other objectives. The specifiedupstream production system value objective can include one or more of aspecified net present value, specified cash flow, a specified productioncost deferment, a specified lifting cost, a specified ultimate recoveryfactor, a specified ultimate recovered product or other objectives. Theproduction characteristic can include one or more of a heating value,specific gravity, sulfur content, water content or other characteristic.The legislative compliance objective can include one or more of aspecified safety objective, a specified emissions, a specified wastedisposal objective, a specified by-product recovery, a specified powergeneration, a specified product allocation or accounting, or otherobjectives. In certain instances, it can be specified to optimize ornearly optimize and/or maximize or nearly maximize one or more of theobjectives. For example, in certain instances, the operationalobjectives can include maximizing or nearly maximizing production volumefrom the upstream production system. In certain instances, theoperational objectives can be ordered in a hierarchy of importance, andimportant operational objectives can be weighted more in determiningcorrective actions while less important operational objectives can beweighted less.

The illustrative upstream production system 250 of FIG. 2B includes oneor more reservoirs 202 (one shown), one or more wells and otherinfrastructure 204 _(a)-204 _(x) (collectively, wells 204) forextracting products and by-products from the reservoirs 202, and aprocessing and transport system 206 for processing and transporting theproducts (and other fluids) between the reservoirs 202 and one or morepoints of sale 208 (one shown).

The wells 204 include components and equipment 252 _(a)-252 _(x) thereof(collectively, components 252) to control the production and/orinjection from and to the wells. In certain instances, the components252 include one or more chokes, valves, other flow control devices,sensors, testing devices, surface and/or downhole steam generators,methanol injection systems, compressors, pumps and other equipment. Incertain instances, the wells 204 can be completed, or may be in theprocess of drilling, and may include wells that are producing while theyare being drilled.

The processing and transport system 206 includes a gathering andtransportation network 254 having a network of pipelines 256 and otherequipment and components 258 _(a)-258 _(x) (collectively equipment 258)that operates in communicating the product and other fluids between thereservoirs 202, one or more production facilities 260 and the point ofsale 208. In certain instances, the gathering and transport network 254can operate to perform one or more of transport products or by-productsback to the wells 204 and/or reservoirs 202 for re-injection, providegas for gas lifting products from the reservoirs 202, compress productsand/or by-products, pump products and/or by-products, store productsand/or by-products, perform some processing of the products and/orby-products, or other functions. In certain instances, the gathering andtransport network equipment 258 can include one or more of valves,chokes, other flow control devices, sensors, testing devices,compressors, pumps, motors, heat exchangers including heaters and/orcoolers, separators, storage tanks and other equipment. The productionfacility 260 operates in separating and treating one or more productsand by-products recovered from the wells 204. In certain instances, theproduction facilities 260 can operate to perform one or more of separateproducts from by-products (e.g. hydrocarbons from water and sediment),separate products (e.g. gaseous from liquid), treat products and/orby-products (e.g. sweeten, dehydrate, add hydrate inhibitors to, and/orremove heavy metals from products), compress products and/orby-products, pump products and/or by-products, store products and/orby-products, generate power, provide for testing and measurement of theproducts and/or by-products, or other functions. In certain instances,the production facility 260 includes one or more valves, chokes, otherflow control devices, sensors, testing devices, compressors, pumps,turbines, motors, heat exchangers including heaters and/or coolers,separators, dehydrators, emulsifiers, methanol injection systems,storage tanks and other equipment.

With respect to the production management system 200, one or more of thesystem's aspects can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry,integrated circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or incombinations thereof. One or more of the aspects of the productionmanagement system 200 can be implemented in a software product (e.g., acomputer program product) tangibly embodied in a machine-readablestorage device for execution by a programmable processor, and processingoperations can be performed by a programmable processor executing aprogram of instructions to perform the described functions by operatingon input data and generating output. One or more of the aspects can beimplemented in one or more software programs that are executable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processorcoupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data andinstructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, andat least one output device. Each software program can be implemented ina high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or inassembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the languagecan be a compiled or interpreted language.

One or more aspects of the illustrative production management system 200can reside on site with the upstream production system 250 or remotefrom the upstream production system 250. In one example, an operationsfacility 262 houses one or more processors 264 and one or moremachine-readable storage devices 266 used in operating one or moreaspects of the production management system 200. In certain instances,the operations facility 262 resides remote from the upstream productionsystem 200 and communicates with actuators, sensors and/or testing(described below) of the reservoirs 202, wells 204 and/or processing andtransport system 206 via a wired and/or wireless communications network268, including one or more publicly accessible communications networks(e.g. the Internet, the telephone network, or other) and/or one or moreprivate communications networks. In certain instances, the operationsfacility 262 may reside many miles from the upstream production facility250, and may reside in a different city, country or global region thanthe upstream production facility 250.

Referring again to FIG. 2A, the production management system 200 may, incertain instances, encompass one or more surface or downhole sensors 210operable to sense characteristics of the reservoirs 202. The system 200may also encompass surface based and downhole testing 212 of thereservoirs 202. In certain instances, the one or more sensors 210 caninclude seismic sensors (e.g. hydrophones and geophones) configured tocollect seismic data (including 1D, 2D, 3D, and/or 4D seismic data)and/or other sensors. In certain instances, the testing 212 encompassestesting to determine geologic data, for example, one or more of log data(acoustic, gamma, neutron, electric, or other type of log), core data,spectral density log data. The testing 212 can also encompass testing todetermine seismic data and other data. The one or more of the sensors210 may operate to sense continuously or substantially continuously,periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically. The rate at which a sensor 210samples can depend on the nature of the characteristic that the sensoris sensing, including how quickly the characteristic changes or howchanges in the characteristic affect production. In certain instancesone or more of the sensors samples often enough to capture operationallysignificant changes in the parameter being measured. Further, differentof the sensors 210 can operate at different sampling rates. In certaininstances, one or more of the sensors 210 may be operated to send datain real time and to provide real time data. Real time data, as usedherein, is data that is temporally proximate to an operationallysignificant change in the data being collected (e.g., a parameter beingmeasured, be it measured continuously or periodically in regular and/orirregular intervals). In certain instances, the real time data may bemarked with or associated with information regarding the time and sourceof collection, for example to facilitate use of the data when not usedin real time. Real time data is not necessarily continuous data, but incertain instances, continuous data can provide real time data. Also, thetesting 212 may be performed continuously or substantially continuously,periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically and may depend on the type oftesting. In certain instances, the testing 212 may be performed oftenenough to capture operationally significant changes in the parameterbeing tested. In certain instances, some or all of the testing 212 maybe performed to provide real time data.

The system 200 encompasses one or more surface or downhole sensors 214operable to sense characteristics of the wells 204 and one or moresurface or downhole actuators and/or other regulatory controls(collectively actuators 216) operable to control operation of the wells204 and the components 252 thereof. The system 200 also encompassessurface based and downhole testing 218 of the wells 204. In certaininstances, the sensors 214 sense information about production and/orinjection, for example, one or more of pressure, temperature, viscosity,flow rate, compositional profiles, operational states of components ofthe wells 204, and other characteristics. In certain instances, thetesting 218 encompasses testing to determine the condition and operationof the wells 204. In certain instances, the sensors 214 and/or thetesting 218 determine one or more of production flow rate, injectionflow rate, injection pressure, production pressure, annulus pressure,formation pressure, bottom hole pressure, wellhead pressure,temperature, temperature survey log data, well temperature transientprofile data, fluid flow rate, fluid density, fluid velocity, waterproduction rate, oil production rate, gas production rate, backpressure, composition, chromatographic compositional analysis data,downhole component (valves, etc.) states, gas to liquid ratio, gas tooil ratio, and other data. As above, the one or more sensors 214 mayoperate to sense continuously or substantially continuously,periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically. The rate at which a sensor 214samples may depend on the nature of the characteristic that the sensoris sensing, including how quickly the characteristic changes or howchanges in the characteristic affect production. In certain instances,one or more sensors 214 sample often enough to capture operationallysignificant changes in the parameter being measured. Further, differentof the sensors 214 can operate at different sampling rates. In certaininstances, one or more of the sensors 214 may be operated to providereal time data. Likewise, the testing 218 may be performed continuouslyor substantially continuously, periodically at regular and/or irregularintervals, or sometimes continuously and sometimes periodically and maydepend on the type of testing. In certain instances, the some or all ofthe testing 218 may be performed to provide real time data.

The actuators 216 can be configured to receive a signal (e.g.electronic, optical, hydraulic, mechanical, or other) and substantiallyinstantaneously or with some degree of specified or unspecified delay,automatically actuate their respective component 252 of the wells 204.The signal can provide instructions about a corrective action, forexample to make an adjustment to the operation of the component 252including adjusting the component 252 to an extreme of its operatingrange (e.g. on/off, open/closed, or other), adjusting the component 252a specified amount, or other instructions. In certain instances, theactuators 216 can actuate without substantial delay in response to theirrespective control signal. In certain instances, the signal can bereceived by a human (e.g. by telephone, e-mail or text message, signalon a control panel display or other user interface, orally, or other)who is directed to actuate, and subsequently actuates in accordance withthe signal, the component of the wells 204. In certain instances, theactuators 216 respond to provide real time control of the wells 204 andcomponents 252 thereof.

The system 200 encompasses one or more sensors 220 operable to sensecharacteristics of the processing and transport system 206 in one ormore actuators and/or other regulatory controls (collectively actuators222) operable to control operation of the processing and transportsystem 206 and the equipment 258 and 260 thereof. The system 200 alsoencompasses testing 224 of the processing and transport system 206. Incertain instances, the sensors 220 sense pressure, temperature,viscosity, density, flow rate, flow velocities, compositional profiles,operational states of components of the processing and transport system206, and other characteristics. In certain instances, the actuators 222are associated with and control some or all of the gathering networkequipment 258 and other components involved in the processing andtransport of production to the point of sale 208. In certain instances,the testing 224 encompasses testing to determine the condition andoperation of the processing and transport system 206. In certaininstances, the sensors 220 and/or the testing 224 determine one or moreof process flow rate, injection flow rate, process pressure, injectionpressure, temperature, fluid flow rate, fluid density, fluid velocity,water production rate, oil production rate, gas production rate, backpressure, composition, component (valves, etc.) states, gas to liquidratio, gas to oil ratio, component power usage, total productionfacility power usage, component utility usage, total production facilityutility usage, and other data.

As above, the one or more sensors 220 may operate to sense continuouslyor substantially continuously, periodically at regular and/or irregularintervals, or sometimes continuously and sometimes periodically. Therate at which a sensor 220 samples may depend on the nature of thecharacteristic that the sensor is sensing, including how quickly thecharacteristic changes or how changes in the characteristic affectprocessing and transport of the production. In certain instances, one ormore sensors sample often enough to capture operationally significantchanges in the parameter being measured. Further, different of thesensors 220 can operate at different sampling rates. In certaininstances, one or more of the sensors 220 may be operated to providereal time data. Likewise, the testing 224 may be performed continuouslyor substantially continuously, periodically at regular and/or irregularintervals, or sometimes continuously and sometimes periodically and maydepend on the type of testing. In certain instances, some or all of thetesting 224 may be performed to provide real time data.

The actuators 222 can be configured to receive a signal (e.g.electronic, optical, hydraulic, mechanical, or other) and substantiallyinstantaneously or with some degree of specified or unspecified delay,automatically actuate their respective equipment 254 of the processingand transport system 206. The signal can provide instructions about acorrective action, for example to make an adjustment to the operation ofthe equipment 258 including adjusting the equipment 258 to an extreme ofits operating range (e.g. on/off, open/closed, or other), adjusting theequipment 258 a specified amount, or other instructions. In certaininstances, the actuators 222 can actuate without substantial delay inresponse to their respective control signal. In certain instances, thesignal can be received by a human (e.g. by telephone, e-mail or textmessage, signal on a control panel display or other user interface,orally, or other) who is directed to actuate, and subsequently actuatesin accordance with the signal, the equipment 258 of the processing andtransport system 206. In certain instances, the actuators 222 respond toprovide real time control of the processing and transport system 206 andequipment 258 thereof.

The system 200 includes a data center 226 that receives information fromthe reservoirs 202, wells 204 and the processing and transport system206 and communicates information to the wells 204, and processing andtransport system 206. More specifically, the data center 226 receivesdata from and communicates information and signals to one or more of thereservoir sensors 210 and testing 212, the wells sensors 214, actuators216 and testing 218, and the processing and transport sensors 220,actuators 222 and testing 224. The data center 226 acts as a gateway tocommunicate, as well as embodies memory and data storage to act as arepository of, the data sensed by the sensors, the informationdetermined from the testing, and the operational states of the systemcomponents. Additionally, the data center 226 acts as a gateway tocommunicate and record the information and signals communicated to thesensors, testing and actuators.

The data center 226 is also in communication with other operationalcomponents and models of the system 200. In certain instances, the datacenter 226 is in communication with one or more of an production systemmodel 228, an expert analysis and intelligence component 230, acollaborative decision-making component 232 and an executive actioncomponent 234 (collectively “components and models”). The data center226 receives data from and communicates information and signals to thecomponents and models of the system 200. The data center 226 records theinformation and signals communicated among the components and models ofthe system 200, as well as the information and signals communicatedbetween the components and models of the system 200 and the sensors,actuators and testing of reservoirs 202, wells 204 and processing andtransport system 206. As such, the data center 226 operates as arepository of information and signals communicated about the system 200.Of note, the data center 226 need not receive data from every componentwith which it communicates information and signals to, and vice versa.Also, although described herein as directly linking the communicationbetween the operational components and models of the system 200 and thereservoirs 202, wells 204 and processing and transport system 206, thedata center 226 can be positioned parallel in the communication betweenthe operational components and models of the system 200 and thereservoirs 202, wells 204 and processing and transport system 206. Inother words, the components and models of the system 200 and cancommunicate directly with the sensors and testing of the reservoirs 202,the wells 204 and the processing and transport system 206, and the datacenter 226 can operate only to collect and record the informationcommunicated. Moreover, the data center 226 can communicate some or allof the data continuously or substantially continuously, periodically atregular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimes continuously andsometimes periodically. The rate at which data is communicated by thedata center 226 can depend on the nature of the data, including howquickly the data is updated and how changes in the data affectproduction. In certain instances, some or all of the data iscommunicated quickly enough to capture operationally significant changesin the data. Further, different data can be communicated at differentrates. In certain instances, some or all of the data may be communicatedin real time to provide real time data.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in certain instances, the data center 226includes a reservoir database 302, a supervisory control and dataacquisition system (SCADA) 304, an engineering/production database 306,an enterprise information system 308, a data historian 310, acomputerized maintenance and management system (CMMS) 312, and otherdata components. The data center 226 may be implemented as softwareand/or hardware. The components, including the reservoir database 302,the SCADA 304, the engineering/production database 306, the enterpriseinformation system 308, the data historian 310, the computerizedmaintenance and management system (CMMS) 312, and other data components,may be configured to interact and intercommunicate information. Thereservoir database 302 collects information from the sensors and testingperformed at the reservoirs 202. The SCADA 304 monitors the informationfrom the sensors, actuators and testing performed at the reservoirs 202,the wells 204 and the processing and transport system 206, processes theinformation and presents it to operators in a digestible format (e.g. ata display of a control panel or other user interface), operates alarmsand warnings when the characteristics become undesirable, and includes adistributed control system that controls the sensors, actuators andtesting. The engineering/production database 306 collects informationfrom the sensors, actuators and testing performed at the wells 204,including information concerning production and injection, and at theprocessing and transport system 206. The enterprise information system308 enables enterprise-level accesses to various data stores throughoutthe data center 226 (e.g. the reservoir database 302, theengineering/production database 306, the data historian 310, and otherdata stores), systems of the data center 226 (the SCADA 304 and the CMMS312), and the components and models of the system 200. The CMMS 312maintains information gathered about the maintenance operationsperformed at the wells 204 and processing and transport system 206,including maintenance routines, maintenance schedules, maintenancecompleted, work orders, information about the equipment and deviceswithin the system 200, and other information.

Referring back to FIG. 2A, the production system model 228 may beimplemented as software and/or hardware and operable to model theupstream production system, including one or more of the reservoirs 202,the wells 204, or the processing and transport system 206, economicaspects of the upstream production system, maintenance and reliabilityaspects of the upstream production system, or other aspects of theupstream production system.

Referring to FIG. 3A, in certain instances, the production system modelcan include a number of first principal sub-models that, in someinstances, act in concert and share information to model the upstreamproduction system and account for changes in one sub-model that affectanother of the sub-models (herein referred to as production system model228 a). For example, the production system model 228 a can include oneor more of Earth models 320, reservoir models 318, wells models 316,processing and transport models 314, economic models 338, maintenanceand reliability models 340 or other models. With respect to thereservoirs 202, the Earth model 320 models one or more of thegeological, geophysical or other characteristics of the reservoirs 202.One example of an Earth model that can be used herein is PETREL, aregistered trademark of Schlumberger Technology Corporation. Thereservoir model 318 models one or more of permeability, porosity,reservoir pressure, water and oil saturations, stratigraphy, hydrocarbonvolumes, reservoir drive mechanisms or other characteristics of thereservoirs 202. One example of a reservoir model that can be used hereinis NEXUS, a registered trademark of Landmark Graphics Corporation. Thewells model 316 models, among other things, the production and flowcharacteristics of the wells 204 of the upstream production system,including flow rate at individual wells or across all or a subset of thewells. One example of a wells model that can be used herein is PROSPER,a trademark of Petroleum Experts Ltd. The processing and transport model314 may model pressures, flow rates, compositions, and othercharacteristics of the operation of various equipment of the processingand transport system 206. Some examples of processing and transportsystem models that can be used herein include PIPESIM, a trademark ofSchlumberger Technology Corporation, for modeling the gathering andtransport system aspects and HYSIS, a registered trademark of HyprotechLtd., for modeling aspects of the production facilities. The economicmodel 338 models one or more of economic return, net present value,payout, profit versus investment ratio or other economic factors acrossthe upstream production system taking into account current productprices, current fixed costs, and/or current variable costs. One exampleof an economic model that can be used herein is ARIES, a trademark ofLandmark Graphics Corporation. The maintenance and reliability model 340models one or more of mean time between failure or meantime to repair ofthe components and subcomponents of the upstream production systemand/or other operational aspects of the upstream production system. Oneexample of a maintenance and reliability model that can be used hereinis MAROS, a trademark of Jardine Technology Ltd. In certain instances,an interface system may operate within the production system model 228 ato facilitate and/or enable the intercommunication and operation inconcert of the first principal sub-models.

As seen in FIG. 3B, in certain instances, the production system modelmay be a single, comprehensive model that models the reservoirs 202, thewells 204, the processing and transport system 206 and/or other aspectsof the upstream production system (hereinafter referred to as productionsystem model 228 b). Such a production system model 228 b may include anintegrated system model 342 modeling the physical characteristics of theupstream production system, an objective function model 344 modeling thehierarchy of system objectives determined as objective functions as theyrelate to the upstream production system and subsystems, elements andcomponents and the constraints that affect the upstream productionsystem that may be physical, economic, legislative, operational,organizational or otherwise. The production system model 228 b may be afull model, having features and modeling commensurate with the firstprincipal models mentioned above, or may be an approximation or proxyfor a full model. For example, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/763,971, entitled Methods, Systems and Computer-Readable Media forReal-Time Oil and Gas Field Production Optimization with ProxySimulator, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/763,973,entitled Methods, Systems and Computer-Readable Media for Fast Updatingof Oil and Gas Field Production Models with Physical and ProxySimulators, and their progeny describe some examples of proxy modelingtechniques that can be used in the production system model 228 b. Incertain instances, the production system model 228 b can be derived fromthe first principal models 314, 316, 318, 320, and/or other modelsincluding the economics model 338, the maintenance and reliability model340, and/or additional models. In certain instances the productionsystem model 228 b may be a derived model, for example, derived fromupstream production system data and historical data. In certaininstances, the production system model 228 b can be derived from acombination of first principal and derived model components.

In either instance, because the production system model 228 spans theupstream production system, it can communicate information between theportions of the model that model the reservoirs 202, the wells 204, andthe processing and transport system 206 to account for changes in oneportion of the upstream production system that affect other portions.For example, a change in the reservoirs 202 may have a correspondingimpact on the wells 204, and a change in the wells 204 may have animpact on the processing and transport system 206.

In certain instances, a solver module 326 can be provided that operatesto test operational scenarios of the upstream production system usingthe production system model 228 (or some or all of the modules orsubmodels of the production system model 228) and determine a scenario,and corresponding corrective actions for the components and equipment,that works toward or achieves one or more operational objectives. If notincorporated into the model itself, the solver module 326 can accountfor the hierarchy of system objectives of the upstream production systemand subsystems, elements and components and the constraints that affectthe upstream production system that may be physical, economic,legislative, operational, organizational or otherwise. The solver module326 can be a subset of the expert analysis and intelligence model 230,as in FIG. 3A, a subset of the production system model 228, as in FIG.3B, or in both. In certain instances, the testing of scenarios mayrepresent multiple decision points in the operation of the upstreamproduction system, and may account for the multiple impacts the range ofphysical setting options may have on the upstream production system andthe objective functions and the constraints that apply to its operation.In certain instances, the time constraints involved to execute aselected decision may be long relative to the scenario testing, and inother instances may necessitate a response without substantial delay.The solver module 326 may operate in providing an automated or partiallyautomated corrective action, in certain instances via automatedworkflows such as in FIGS. 4 and 6 and in certain instances viaorchestrated workflows such as in FIGS. 7-10. In certain instances, thesolver module 326 can operate with the production system model 228 todetermine corrective actions continuously or substantially continuously,periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically. Corrective actions fordifferent aspects of the upstream production system can be determined atdifferent rates. In certain instances, the corrective actions can bedetermined without substantial delay from the respective operationallysignificant changes in the upstream production system. In certaininstances the corrective actions can be determined in real time. Thecorrective actions can be interfaced with the executive action module234 to initiate and/or execute determined corrective actionsautomatically via advanced process management by interfacing with aSCADA interface component 330 to actuate the actuators 216 and 222, atleast in part automatically via orchestrated workflows coordinated by adynamic process workflow module 332, and/or at least in partautomatically through interfacing with the work management system module334 to enter work activities to the production system work schedule.

The expert analysis and intelligence module 230 can be implemented ashardware and/or software and operates to apply expert knowledge andanalysis to analyze operation of one or more of the reservoirs 202, thewells 204, or the processing and transport system 206. Accordingly, theexpert analysis and intelligence module 230 can perform one or more ofidentify enhancement opportunities (deficiencies and improvementopportunities), automatically validate or facilitate decision-makers invalidating the identified enhancement opportunities, or automaticallydetermine corrective actions and/or facilitate decision-makers indetermining corrective actions to realize the enhancement opportunities.The expert analysis and intelligence module 230 can interface with theexecutive action module 234 to initiate and/or execute determinedcorrective actions automatically via advanced process management byinterfacing with the SCADA interface component 330 to actuate theactuators 216 and 222, at least in part automatically via orchestratedworkflows coordinated by the dynamic process workflow module 332, and/orat least in part automatically through interfacing with the workmanagement system module 334 to enter work activities to the productionsystem work schedule. In one example, the expert analysis andintelligence module 230 may receive information on the operation of thesystem 200 from the data center 226, automatically (i.e. without humaninput) compare that information to one or more operational objectivesand identify corrective actions. The comparisons can be performedcontinuously or substantially continuously during operation of thesystem, periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically. The rate at which comparisonscan be performed can depend on the nature of the data being compared,including how quickly the underlying characteristic changes or howchanges in the underlying characteristic affects the system. Differentdata can be compared at different rates. In certain instances, one ormore of the comparisons can be performed in real time. Likewise, thecorrective actions can be determined continuously or substantiallycontinuously during operation of the system, periodically at regularand/or irregular intervals, or sometimes continuously and sometimesperiodically. The rate at which determinations can be performed candepend on the nature of the corrective action, how the determination isbeing made, and the data used, including how quickly the underlyingcharacteristics change or how changes in the underlying characteristicsaffect the system. Different determinations can be performed atdifferent rates. In certain instances, one or more of the determinationsof corrective actions can be performed in real time.

In certain instances, as depicted in FIG. 3, the expert analysis andintelligence module 230 may include an advisory sub module 322implemented as software and/or hardware operable to receive inputs fromother modules of the system 200, including information on enhancementopportunities, and indicate that enhancement opportunities have beenidentified. The information on enhancement opportunities may be derivedfrom actual data from the data center 226 and modeled or expected datafrom the production system model 228 via the solver 326 or via specifiedalgorithms in the algorithms module 324 (e.g. standards or targets,including performance standards), and identified variances between theexpected operation or specified standards/targets and actual operationof the reservoirs 202, wells 204, and processing and transport system206. Together or individually, the algorithms sub module 324, the solvermodule 326 and a knowledge capture module 328 operate as an expertsystem. The knowledge capture module 328 operates as a repository ofexpert knowledge about the upstream production system and interfaceswith the advisory module 322 to present information about conditionsdetected across the upstream production system. The algorithms submodule 324 applies algorithms to data received from the productionsystem model 228 and other modules of the system 200 to aid ininterpreting the data. The solver module 326, as mentioned above, testsscenarios against the production system model 228 over the system 200and other modules of the system 200 to aid in interpreting the data andin determining future data consistent with the operation objectives ofthe upstream production system.

In facilitating decision-makers in validating and determining correctiveactions, the expert analysis and intelligence module 230 may provideanalysis and information about the system subset (e.g. specifications,as-designed characteristics, process and instrument diagrams, numericalmodeling, historical failure and repair information, access to expertsystems concerning the system subset, analysis of possible causes forthe deficiency or enhancement opportunity, and other analysis andinformation) to the decision-makers via the collaborativedecision-making module 232. The expert analysis and intelligence module230 may automatically provide or the decision-makers may query theexpert analysis and intelligence module 230 for the information andanalysis. The analysis and intelligence may include one or morerecommended actions. The decision-makers may interact with the expertanalysis and intelligence module 230 or alternatively by testingscenarios against the production system model 228 via the collaborativedecision-making module 232 to determine the effectiveness of variouspossible actions and use that information in selecting the action thatwill be taken.

The corrective actions can include corrective actions on wells 204, theprocessing and transport system 206 and/or the production managementsystem 200 itself. In certain instances, the corrective action on thewells 204 can include adjusting at least one of a production rate fromor an injection rate to one or more wells using surface and/or downholevalves, chokes, pumps, artificial lift devices, or other flow controldevices. Adjusting the production/injection rate can include initiatingand/or executing one or more well intervention activities on one or morewells. For example, the well intervention activities can include one ormore of well stimulation, well fracturing, downhole device maintenanceor other activity. Adjusting the production/injection rate can includeisolating one or more reservoirs or subterranean zones. Adjusting theproduction/injection rate can include implementing design changes. Incertain instances, the corrective action can include initiating anadjustment to and/or adjusting the production plan and/or a well plan(including specifying new wells and/or re-working or re-drillingexisting wells).

In certain instances, the corrective action on the gathering andtransport network 254 of the processing and transport system 206 caninclude one or more adjusting an amount of a flow through a pipe,adjusting a pressure of a flow supplied through a pipe, adjusting a flowrate of a flow supplied through a pipe, adjusting a valve, adjusting achoke, adjusting a flow control device, adjusting a compressor,adjusting a pump, adjusting a heater, and adjusting a cooler. In certaininstances, the corrective action on the production facility 260 of theprocessing and transport system 206 can include one or more adjusting anamount of a flow supplied to a separator, adjusting the pressure of aflow supplied to the separator, adjusting a flow rate of a flow suppliedto a separator, adjusting an amount of a flow supplied to a dehydrator,adjusting the pressure of a flow supplied to the dehydrator, adjusting aflow rate of a flow supplied to a dehydrator, adjusting a valve,adjusting a choke, adjusting a flow control device, adjusting acompressor, adjusting a pump, adjusting a heater, adjusting a cooler, oradjusting a fluid level. Adjusting the processing and transport system206 can include diverting flow to control the hydraulic balance betweendifferent flow paths and/or process trains, to facilitate well testingor intervention, to facilitate equipment or component testing orrepair/service, to isolate wells, equipment or components, or otherreasons. Adjusting the processing and transport system 206 can includeadjusting treatment rates, for example methanol or corrosion injectionrates. Adjusting the processing and transport system 206 can includecontrolling utility usage, such as electric, gas, refrigeration, steamand/or compressed air usage. Adjusting the processing and transportsystem 206 can include controlling the safety systems, such as emergencyshut down valves, deluge and flare systems and/or other systems.Adjusting the processing and transport system 206 can includeimplementing preventative or corrective maintenance and/or designchanges.

Once a corrective action has been determined, either by thedecision-maker or automatically, that corrective action may beimplemented on the production system subset (e.g. adjust operation,repair, replace equipment or other) or may make a change to theproduction system model 228 or expert analysis and intelligence module230 (e.g. update model, adjust analysis, or other). Adjustments may bemade to the system continuously or substantially continuously,periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically. Different adjustments can bemade at different rates. In certain instances, one or more of theadjustments can be performed in real time. More detailed examples ofcertain implementations of the system 200 are described below withreference to FIGS. 4-10.

Referring again to FIG. 2A, the executive action module 234 operates todrive and track the progress of a plurality of work flows that operatewithin the system 200 in managing the reservoirs 202, the wells 204, andthe processing and transport system 206. The executive action module 234drives operation of the upstream production system by prompts from thedata center 226, the production system model 228, the expert analysisand intelligence module 230, and the collaborative decision-makingmodule 232. The executive action module 234 can further coordinatecommunication of information between the data center 226, the productionsystem model 228, the expert analysis and intelligence module 230, andthe collaborative decision-making module 232 using a scheduler module336 that initiates communication of information, in one instance,according to a predetermined frequency or time frame and/or, in anotherinstance, upon occurrence of specific events to provide information tothe proper module for the module to perform its role in system 200management. The executive action module 234 can be implemented assoftware and/or hardware.

In certain instances, as depicted in FIG. 3, the executive action moduleincludes SCADA interface 330, dynamic process work flows 332, a workmanagement system 334, and a scheduler 336 implemented as softwareand/or hardware. The SCADA interface 330 receives one or more set points(i.e. corrective actions) for various components of the wells 204 andthe processing and transport system 206 and communicates the set pointsto the SCADA 304 which automatically controls the operation of the wells204 and the processing and transport system 206 (for example, viasignals to actuators 216 and 222) to set and/or maintain the set points.In maintaining the set points, the SCADA 304 may operate a feedbackloop, receiving data on actual operation from the data center 226,comparing the actual operation to the set point, and if a varianceexists determining and implementing an adjustment to attain the setpoints. The feedback loop may be operated continuously or substantiallycontinuously, periodically in regular and/or irregular intervals orsometimes continuously and sometimes periodically. In certain instances,the feedback look may be performed in real time. The set point may bederived from actions specified by a decision-maker via the collaborativedecision-making module 232, automatically from the expert analysis andintelligence module 230, automatically or semi-automatically from a workflow of the executive action module 234, automatically from theproduction system model 228 or other. The SCADA 304 may be implementedto control both on an equipment or component level as well as on alarger subset of the upstream production system (e.g. the wells 204, theprocessing and transport system 206, or other subset thereof).

The work management system 334 coordinates performance of work (e.g.,corrective actions), such as adjustment, maintenance, repair orreplacement of components and equipment, throughout the system 200. Forexample, in certain implementations, the work management systemcoordinates the scheduling and assignment of personnel and work ordersto perform work on the reservoirs 202, wells and 204, and processing andtransport system 206, as well as other components of the system 200. Thework management system 334, in certain implementations, may also trackstatus and/or completion of work orders.

The dynamic process work flows 332 include one or more work flows thatoperate to drive performance of the system 200 in managing the upstreamproduction system. The work flows 332 coordinate how task in thesystem's operation are structured, who/what performs them, what theirrelative order is, how they are synchronized, how information flows tosupport the tasks and how tasks are tracked. The dynamic process workflows 332 drive production operations, model updates, production lossreporting, maintenance, and other activities in management and operationof the upstream production system and the production management system200. For example, in some implementations, the dynamic work flows 332operate drive the expert analysis and intelligence module 230 inidentifying enhancement opportunities and drive the collaborativedecision-making module 232 in prompting decision-makers for input invalidating enhancement opportunities and/or implementing actions torealize the identified enhancement opportunity. The dynamic work flows332 may further operate to drive and coordinate implementation of theactions selected to realize the identified enhancement opportunities.For example, the dynamic work flows 332 may prompt maintenance oradjustments to the wells 204, the processing and transport system 206,and/or actuators 216, 222 thereof. In some instances, the dynamic workflows 332 coordinate with the work management system 334 and SCADAinterface 330 to implement adjustments. In certain instances, the workflows 332 are dynamic in that the workflows orchestrate human and/orsystem interaction as and when enhancement opportunities are identified,such that the opportunities can be better realized in a timeframeconsistent with the opportunity. In certain instance, the work flows 332are wholly automatic. In certain instances, the work flows 332 operatein providing real time control of the upstream production system. Someexample dynamic process work flows 332 are described in more detailbelow with reference to FIGS. 4-10

The collaborative decision-making module 232 operates as an interfacebetween the organization responsible for management and operation of theupstream production system (including, for example, decision-makers,operations, maintenance, engineering support personnel and certainsuppliers and vendors) and the other aspects of the system 200. Thecommunication may take place via a computer accessed enterpriseinformation portal, such as a network or Internet based portal, thatcollects or receives information from the components of the system 200and displays it to the user in an easily digestible format. The portalmay be accessed via numerous types of computer devices includingpersonal computers, hand-held personal assistants, stationary or mobiletelephones, dedicated devices, remote terminals, and other devices. Theportal may allow user customization. Information in the portal may bearranged in a hierarchical fashion, presenting high-level informationinto which the user can drill down for more detailed or relatedinformation. Similar or other communication may take place via messagesdirected to or received from one or more members of the community ofpractice, electronic or otherwise, including SMS, e-mail, text messages,audio messages and/or other types of messages. In any instance, theeasily digestible format may include textual information, graphicalrepresentations of information, audible information and/or other formsof information. For example, the information may be arranged in graphs,charts, flow charts showing work flows, three-dimensional facilities andwell walk-throughs, graphical representations of pressure, temperature,flow, and other characteristics, three-dimensional models of thereservoirs 202, the operation of the wells 204 and the processing andtransport system 206, and other forms of information. The informationsupplied to the collaborative decision making module 232 (and thus theportal or other communication modes) can be updated continuously orsubstantially continuously, periodically at regular and/or irregularintervals, or sometimes continuously and sometimes periodically.Different information can be updated at different rates. In certaininstances, the information can be real time information. U.S. PublishedPatent Application No. 2004/0153437, entitled Support Apparatus, Methodand System for Real Time Operations and Maintenance, describes oneexample of a system that can be used in implementing a collaborativedecision making module herein.

Because the system 200 operates across the upstream production system,information collected from different aspects of the upstream productionsystem can be presented together. For example, information from one ormore of the reservoirs 202, wells 204, and processing and transportsystem 206 can be analyzed together to provide a larger picture of theupstream production system's conditions and operation. In someinstances, the data can express the interrelationship between data ofone aspect of the upstream production system to that of another aspectof the upstream production system in a manner that cannot be done if thereservoirs 202, wells 204, and processing and transport system 206 areanalyzed as separate entities. For example, one or more actions torealize an enhancement opportunity in the wells 204 may require a changein the processing and transport system 206 to be fully realized or maynegatively or positively impact the operation of the processing andtransport system 206 or the reservoirs 202. Likewise one or more actionsto realize an enhancement opportunity in the processing and transportsystem 206 may require a change in the wells 204 to be fully realized,or may negatively or positively impact the operation of the wells 204 orthe reservoirs 202. Therefore, by selecting an action based on itslarger impact across the system, better decisions about actions can bemade.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-10, illustrative workflows of the system 200 aredescribed. FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative automated productionoperations workflow 600 that works to operate the actual production 120from the upstream production system. In certain instances, the automatedproduction operations workflow 600 is implemented as software and/orhardware, and can operate production from the upstream production systemin relation to operational objectives. For example, the workflow 600 mayoperate the upstream production system toward or to achieve one or moreof the operational objectives.

In operation, the production system model 228 automatically receivesdata from the data center 226 and the production surveillance module604. The data may be received continuously or substantiallycontinuously, periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, orsometimes continuously and sometimes periodically. Different data may bereceived at different rates. In certain instances, the data can bereceived without substantially delay, and in some instances the data canbe real time data. Using the data, the production system model 228automatically determines control settings for the actuators, for exampleactuators 216 and 222, to control the upstream production system. Incertain instances, the production system model 228 can also determinecontrol settings for components and equipment that are not controlled byactuators, but that must be controlled manually. The control settingsare selected to work toward or achieve the one or more operationalobjectives, and can be determined, for example, by the solver 326operating a number of scenarios with the integrated system model 342 andobjective function model 344 (or models 314-320). In one example, thecontrol settings can yield corrective actions that implement a set ofproducing and shut down wells and a product flow rate and pressure fromthe producing wells to maximize usage of available gathering andtransport network 254 and/or production facilities 256 capacity. Inanother example, where the gathering and transport network 254 includesmore than one flow route to communicate product and/or where theproduction facilities 256 can perform parallel processing of product,the control settings can implement valve, choke and other flow controlsettings to optimally or near optimally balance the flow between theavailable flow paths.

At operation 610, actions to implement the corrective actions areinitiated and executed on the reservoirs 202, the wells 204 and/or atthe processing and transport system 206, and information concerning thecorrective action is recorded. At least the initiation of implementingthe control settings is performed automatically and the execution mayalso be performed automatically. The execution and recording of theaction can be performed via the SCADA interface 330 and/or workmanagement system 334. The work management system 334, as discussedabove, operates in coordinating scheduling, assignment of personnel,work orders and other aspects of implementing the action. In certaininstances, an adjustment via an actuator, such as actuators 216 and 222,may be performed via the SCADA interface 330. In certain instances, anadjustment to components or equipment that are controlled manually or anadjustment that is of a nature that it cannot be performed by the SCADAinterface may be performed via the work management system 334. In someinstances, the action may be initiated and/or implemented substantiallyinstantaneously, or without substantial delay, for example via a signalto an actuator 216 of the wells 204 and/or an actuator 222 of theprocessing and transport system 206. The action may also be implementedautomatically or in whole or in part by human intervention. For example,the nature and magnitude of the corrective action (e.g., adjust aspecified valve a specified amount) can be communicated to a human viathe work management system 334.

At operation 612, described below, operation of the reservoirs 202,wells 204 and/or processing and transport system are monitored toidentify a change in operation, and attribute the changes with therespective actions that caused them. In this way, the system 200 enablesanalysis of the actions to see whether they were successful in realizingthe enhancement opportunities. At operation 680, described below, theproduction system model 228 is updated.

One or more of the determining control settings, initiating andexecuting the control settings, or monitoring and attributing thechanges to the operations can be performed without substantial delayfrom the occurrence of operationally significant changes in the data(i.e. measured or tested parameters), and in some instances can beperformed in real time. If the data is collected continuously orsubstantially continuously, in rapid enough time intervals (depending onthe type of data), or in real time data, the production operations workflow 600 can operate to take corrective action substantiallyconcurrently with the changes in the actual production 120, and in someinstances in real time.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in identifying production system potential andattributing loss, operation 612, the system 200 can determine theinstalled potential 106, the performance gap 108, the availablepotential 110, the availability 112, the operating potential 114 and thecapacity 116. At operation 402, the installed potential 106 can bedetermined by simulating operation of the upstream production systemwith as-designed parameters. That is, the installed potential 106 isdetermined assuming that the reservoirs 202, wells 204 and processingand transport system 206 operate as expected or intended, and assumingthat the equipment, materials, and personnel necessary to achieve andmaintain the operation of the reservoirs 202, wells 204 and theprocessing and transport system 206 at the expected or intended levelsare available. At operation 404, the available potential 110 can bedetermined by simulating operation of the upstream production systemwith as-designed availability, but using the actual performance data 406collected by the data center 226. As noted above, the data center 226collects actual performance data from sensors 210 and testing 212 of thereservoirs 202, sensors 214 and testing 218 of the wells 204, andsensors 220 and testing 224 of the processing and transport system 206.The performance gap 108 can be determined as a function of thedifference between the installed potential 106 and the availablepotential 110. At operation 408, the operating potential 114 can bedetermined by simulating operation of the upstream production systemwith actual performance data and actual availability data collected bythe data center 226. The availability gap 112 can be determined as afunction of the difference between the available potential 110 and theoperating potential 114. Further, the capacity gap 116 can be determinedas a function of the difference between the operating potential 114 andthe production data 412.

In each instance, if the data is collected continuously or substantiallycontinuously, in real time, or in rapid enough time periods, theproduction system model 228 can be operated to determine the performancegap 108, the available potential 110, the availability gap 112, theoperating potential 114 and the capacity gap 116 temporally proximate tooperational changes in the upstream production system. Of note, changesin the production data 412, the availability data 410, and theperformance data 406 may not occur at the same rate. For example,performance data 406 may not yield a significant change for a matter ofweeks, months or years. This is because degradation of the operatingperformance of the reservoirs 202, wells 204, and processing andtransport system 206 (of which production data 412 represents) occursover a long period of time. In a specific example of the reservoirs 202,changes in the conditions that make extraction of products moredifficult and/or the depletion of easily reachable product occurs over anumber of years. In a specific example of the wells 204 or theprocessing and transport system 206, wear, clogging, and failure ofequipment and hardware likewise occurs over a long period of time, suchas weeks, months, or years. In contrast, production data 412 may yield asignificant change in a matter of seconds, minutes or hours. This isbecause the results of failure of components and subcomponents of theupstream production system to be optimally set up or adjusted to achievethe operating potential occur rapidly. For example, if a valve in thewells 204 or the processing and transport system 206 is maladjusted, itwill have a substantially immediate impact on the flow that can bemeasured and corrected. The availability data 410 may yield asignificant change in a matter of hours, days or weeks.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an illustrative automated model update 680 thatoperates to automatically update the production system model 228 isschematically depicted. The automated model update 680 can beimplemented as software and/or hardware, and can operate in parallelwith other workflows, for example the automated production operationsworkflow 600 or the orchestrated production operations workflow 650(described below), or the operation of one or more other workflows maybe ceased during operation of the automated model update 680. Theautomated model update 680 can receive information from one or more ofthe other workflows. The automated model update 680 can update aproduction system model 228 having first instance models, such as models314-320, 338 and 340 depicted in FIG. 3A, or a production system model228 having an integrated system model 342, objective function model 344and solver 326 depicted in FIG. 3B. By updating the production systemmodel 228, the production system model 228 can maintain accuratemodeling of the upstream production system.

In operation, the production system model 228 automatically receivesdata from the data center 226 and the production surveillance module604. The data may include current or substantially current data(including real time data), for example obtained from the SCADA 304, andhistorical data, for example obtained from the data historian 310. Atoperation 682 the production system model 228 is automatically validatedagainst the data. In validating the production system model 228,simulations from the production system model 228 are compared againstthe actual data received from the data center 226. The production systemmodel 228 is operated in determining whether any differences stem fromchanges in the upstream production system, inaccuracies in-built intothe production system model 228 (e.g. inaccurate assumptions ormodeling), or because of faulty data. If the production system 228 isinaccurate (i.e. the differences do not stem from faulty data), it isdetermined the production system model 228 needs updating. Thevalidating operation can be continuously or substantially continuouslyperformed during operation of the production management system 200,periodically at regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically. Different aspects of theproduction system model 228 (including different of the first principalmodels 314-320, 338, and 340) can be validated at different rates.

At operation 684, the production system model 228 can be updated, forexample by adjusting the assumptions on which the model is based, thealgorithms from which the simulations are derived, the constraints underwhich the simulations are solved, and/or other aspects to improve thematch between the simulation results and the actual data. The productionsystem model 228 occasionally needs updating or adjustment, for example,because the parameters on which the model is based may be determinedearly in the upstream production system's lifecycle. As the upstreamproduction system operates, more data is accumulated from which tobetter estimate the parameters. Moreover, some parameters change overthe system's lifecycle. In one example, the initial parameters for thereservoir modeling aspects of the production system model 228 are basedon seismic and/or log data. As the production system is produced, theparameters can be better estimated using production data and historymatching. One or more of permeability, porosity, water-oil contacts,fault transmissibility, aquifer porosity, rock pore volume or otherparameters can be updated in the reservoir modeling aspects of theproduction system model 228 using production data. In another example,the components and equipment of the upstream production system fouland/or the performance degrades during operation. The upstreamproduction system model can be updated to account for the fouling and/orperformance degradation, for example by determining and applying one ormore of skin factors, heat exchanger fouling factors, pump efficiencies,compressor efficiencies, turbine efficiencies, pipe friction factors,valve friction factors and other factors. In yet another example, thefluids produced change over time. Fluid properties determined by thesensors and testing can be used in updating the production system model228 to account for changes in fluids over time. Other aspects andparameters of the production system model 228 can be updated.

In certain instances, specified limits of adjustment can be defined,such that if an adjustment beyond the specified limit is needed toupdate the production system model 228, an alert can be communicated toperson or persons with supervisory authority (e.g. via the collaborativedecision-making module 232). The supervisory authority may then reviewthe situation to validate or deny the adjustment beyond the specifiedlimit.

Once the update to the model is determined, the adjustment is initiatedand executed at operation 684 and input back into the production systemmodel 228. At least the initiation operation is performed automatically,and the execution may also be performed automatically. Updating themodel can be continuously or substantially continuously performed duringoperation of the production management system 200, periodically atregular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimes continuously andsometimes periodically. Different aspects of the production system model228 (including different of the first principal models 314-320, 338, and340) can be updated at different rates. One or more of the validatingthe model, initiating and executing the model update can be performedwithout substantial delay from the occurrence of operationallysignificant deviations of the model from the actual upstream productionsystem, and in some instances can be performed in real time.

Turning now to FIG. 7, an illustrative orchestrated productionoperations work flow 650 that works to operate the actual production 120is schematically depicted. The illustrative production operations workflow 650 may be implemented by software and/or hardware and can operateproduction from the upstream production system in relation to one ormore operational objectives. For example, the workflow 650 may operatethe upstream production system toward or to achieve one or more of theoperational objectives mentioned above. By increasing or maximizing theactual production 120, the capacity gap 116 is reduced or minimized.

At operation 602, production enhancement opportunities are automaticallyidentified. Production enhancement opportunities can be identified in anumber of ways. For instance, the operation of the reservoirs 202, thewells 204, and/or the processing and transport system 206 may bemonitored via the production data 412 and compared against the expectedoperation determined by the production system model 228 or specifiedproduction targets to determine whether the operation is meeting theexpected or specified operation. The expected operation or specifiedproduction target may be derived as a function of the operatingpotential 114. In another instance, the operation of components andequipment of the reservoirs 202, the wells 204 and/or the processing andtransport system 206 may be monitored via the production data 412 andcompared against instructions sent to the components and equipment (asdetermined by or using the production system model 228 in accordancewith one or more operational objectives) to determine whether thecomponents and equipment are operating according to the operationalobjectives. Such comparisons, and other comparisons, to determineproduction enhancement opportunities, are monitored by a productionsurveillance module 604. In certain instances, production enhancementopportunities may be identified via an advisory through the advisorymodule 322. The advisory may include not only an indication of theproduction enhancement opportunity, but also its magnitude and possiblereasons for the resulting capacity gap.

At operation 606 the opportunities identified in operation 602 arevalidated against the production system model 228. In certain instances,the opportunities can be automatically validated and/or validated by orwith human intervention, for example via the collaborativedecision-making module 232. Once it is determined whether an opportunityis valid, at operation 608 an action to address the opportunity may ormay not be authorized. For example, if the opportunity is to beauthorized by a person or persons with supervisory authority, suchperson or persons is prompted to review the opportunity, and ifnecessary validate or further validate the opportunity, and approve ordisprove the opportunity via the collaborative decision-making module232. If action is not authorized, operations proceed to the productionloss reporting work flow 700 described below. At operation 610, theauthorized action is executed on the reservoirs 202, the wells 204and/or the processing and transport system 206 and informationconcerning the action is recorded. In certain instances, theorchestrated production operations work flow 650 can be configured toby-pass operations 602-608 if the identified corrective action is withinspecified limits. The specified limits may dictate one or more of themagnitude of the adjustment, the nature of the adjustment, the specificcomponents or equipment being adjusted, or other limits. Whether or notoperations 602-608 are by-passed, the possible actions may includeupdating one or more of the operational objectives, adjusting theoperation of one or more components and equipment of the wells 204and/or processing and transport system 206 (e.g. via the actuators 216,222), or other actions. The execution and recording of the action isperformed via the SCADA interface 330 and/or the work management system334. The work management system 334, as discussed above, operates incoordinating scheduling, assignment of personnel, work orders and otheraspects of implementing the action. In certain instances, an adjustmentto components or equipment that are controlled manually or an adjustmentthat is of a nature that it cannot be performed by the SCADA interfacemay be performed via the work management system 334. In some instances,the action may be initiated and/or implemented substantiallyinstantaneously, or with little delay, for example via a signal to anactuator 216 of the wells 204 and/or an actuator 222 of the processingand transport system 206. The action may also be implementedautomatically or in whole or in part by human intervention. For example,the nature and magnitude of the corrective action can be communicated toa human via the work management system 334.

At operation 612, operation of the reservoirs 202, wells 204 and/orfacilitates are monitored to identify a change in operation, andattribute the changes with the respective actions that caused them. Inthis way, the system 200 enables analysis of the actions to see whetherthey were successful in realizing the enhancement opportunities.

Some or all of the operations 602-612 can be performed automatically,enabling management by exception from the decision-makers. Theoperations may be performed continuously or substantially continuously,periodically in regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously and sometimes periodically. Different operations can beperformed at different rates. In certain instances, one or more or allof the operations are performed in real time. If the data is collectedcontinuously or substantially continuously, in rapid enough timeintervals (depending on the type of data), or in real time data, theproduction operations work flow 650 can operate to identify productionenhancement opportunities, and can take corrective action substantiallyconcurrently with the changes in the actual production 120, and in someinstances in real time.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative orchestrated production loss reportingwork flow 700 that operates to track production loss over time andmitigate the loss thereby increasing, and in some instances maximizing,the actual production 120. The illustrative production loss reportingwork flow 700 may be implemented as software and/or hardware operatingin the executive action module 232 interfacing with other components ofthe system 200 to drive operations of the work flow 700. The productionloss reporting work flow 700 operates in a supervisory capacity over anexisting operational objective that governs the operation of one or moreof the well and infrastructure 204 and the processing and transportsystem 206.

At operation 702, production targets are set. The production targetsrepresent desired production from the reservoirs 202, wells 204 andprocessing and transport system 206, and in certain instances arederived from the operating potential 114. In certain implementations,the production targets may be derived from the operating potential 114adjusted for an expected efficiency of the reservoirs 202, wells 204 andprocessing and transport system 206. The production targets are set withinformation received from the production system model 228. In suchembodiments, the production system model 228 determines the operatingpotential 114 from current production data 412 received from the SCADA304 and historic production data 412 received from the data historian310. The production targets can be set automatically, or can be set withinput from a decision-maker via the collaborative decision-making module232. The production loss reporting work flow 700 drives the setting ofproduction targets by automatically prompting components of the system200 (including the production system model 228), as well as thedecision-maker in performing their parts in setting the productiontargets at operation 702.

At operation 704, production losses are identified. Production loss canbe identified in a number of ways. For instance, the operation of thereservoirs 202, the wells 204, and/or the processing and transportsystem 206 may be monitored via the production data 412 and comparedagainst the production targets to determine whether the operation ismeeting the production targets. Such comparison, and other comparisonsto determine production loss, are monitored by the productionsurveillance module 604 and identified via an advisory through theadvisory module 322. The production surveillance module 604 receivescurrent production data 412 via the SCADA 304 and historic productiondata 412 via the data historian 310. The advisory may include not onlyan indication of the production loss, but also its magnitude andpossible reasons for the resulting capacity gap 116.

At operation 706, the production losses are categorized by the cause ofthe production loss. For example, the production loss may be categorizedas deriving from degradation in performance (i.e. a performance gap108), lack of availability (i.e. and availability gap 112), failure ofcomponents and subcomponents to be optimally adjusted (i.e. capacity gap116), or other. The category of loss is communicated to the productionsurveillance module 604 and accounted for in further operations toidentify production loss.

At operation 708, the production losses are analyzed to determinewhether the production loss is an anomaly, unlikely to occur again, orwhether the production loss is an ongoing, and in some instancesincreasing, loss. In analyzing the production losses, the analysis maylook to historical data trends to note that the production loss isreoccurring, and increasing or decreasing. If it is determined that theproduction loss is reoccurring, the analysis at operation 708 mayautomatically determine or facilitate determining (with input of adecision-maker) one or more possible actions to remedy the productionloss and proceed to operation 710.

At operation 710, an action to remedy the production loss is authorized.The action may be one or more of the actions recommended in operation708, or may be another action. The action may be authorizedautomatically, or may be authorized by or with input from adecision-maker via the collaborative decision-making module 232. In someinstances, the authorized action may involve operation of themaintenance work flow 500, for example to update performance standards(operation 502), update maintenance strategies (operation 506), updatemaintenance routines (operation 508), update maintenance schedules(operation 510), or other. In some instances, the authorized action mayinvolve operation of the production operations work flow 600/650, forexample to perform operations 606-612. In some instances the action mayinvolve operation of the production management work flow 900 to updatethe production targets at operation 702. In some instances, the actionsmay involve initiation of work via the work management system 334 ormaintenance activities via the maintenance work flow 500.

Some or all of the operations 702-710 can be performed automatically,enabling management by exception from the decision-makers. Theoperations may be performed continuously or substantially continuously,periodically in regular and/or irregular intervals, or sometimescontinuously or sometimes periodically. Different operations can beperformed at different rates. In certain instances, the operations areperformed in real time. As discussed above, if the data is collectedcontinuously or substantially continuously, in rapid enough timeintervals (depending on the type of data), or is real time data, theproduction loss reporting work flow 700 can operate to identifyproduction enhancement opportunities, and can take corrective actionsubstantially concurrently with the changes in the actual production120.

Turning now to FIG. 9, an illustrative maintenance work flow 500 thatoperates to increase, and in some instances maximize, the availablepotential 110 and operating potential 114 is schematically depicted. Byincreasing or maximizing the available potential 110 and operatingpotential 114, the performance gap 108 and availability gap 112 arereduced or minimized. The illustrative maintenance work flow 500 may beimplemented by software and/or hardware operating in the executiveaction module 232 interfacing with other components of the system 200 todrive the operations of the work flow 500. In the illustrativemaintenance work flow 500, performance standards are set at operation502. The performance standards represent desired performance of thereservoirs 202, wells 204 and processing and transport system 206, andin certain instances are representative of the installed potential 106.The performance standards are set with information received from amaintenance and reliability modeling aspect of the production systemmodel 228. In certain embodiments, the production system model 228 canbe used to identify the installed potential 106 and determine the meantime between failure and meantime to repair or preventative interventionof the components and subcomponents of the upstream production systemand modifies the installed potential 106 in setting the performancestandards. The performance standards can be set automatically by theproduction system model 228, or can be set by or with input from adecision-maker with information from the production system model 228. Inthe instance where the decision-maker participates in settingperformance standards, information from the production system model 228is communicated to the decision-maker via the collaborativedecision-making module 232. Likewise, the performance standards arecommunicated from the decision-maker via the collaborativedecision-making module 232. Additionally, the decision-maker can haveaccess to other components of the system 200, for example the datacenter 226, via the collaborative decision-making module 232 forreference in setting the performance standards. The maintenance workflow 500 drives the setting of performance standards by automaticallyprompting components of the system 200 (including the production systemmodel 228), as well as the decision-maker in performing their parts insetting the performance standards in operation 502.

At operations 506-510 the maintenance plan for maintaining the upstreamproduction system is set. Specifically, at operation 506, maintenancestrategies are set. At operation 508 maintenance routines are set. Themaintenance routines are automatically communicated to the computerizedmaintenance and management system (CMMS) 312. At operation 510maintenance schedules are set. The maintenance schedules areautomatically communicated to the enterprise information system 308. Themaintenance strategies, maintenance routines and maintenance schedulesrelate to one or more of the reservoirs 202, the wells 204, and theprocessing and transport system 206. As above, the maintenancestrategies, maintenance routines, and maintenance schedules can be setautomatically, or can be set by or with input from a decision-maker withinformation communicated via the collaborative decision-making module232. The illustrative maintenance work flow 500 drives the operations506-510 by automatically prompting components of the system 200, as wellas the decision-maker, in performing their parts of the operations.

At operation 512 the maintenance is automatically executed on thereservoirs 202, the wells 204 and the processing and transport system206 and information concerning the maintenance is recorded. Theexecution and recording of maintenance is performed via a workmanagement work flow 800 and a work management system 334. The workmanagement work flow 800. The work management system 334 is driven bythe work management work flow 800 to implement the maintenance. The workmanagement system 334, as discussed above, operates in coordinatingscheduling, assignment of personnel, work orders and other aspects ofimplementing the maintenance. The work management system alsoautomatically reports to the CMMS 312 regarding the scheduling, thepersonnel, the work orders, the status complete, and the actions takenin implementing the maintenance.

At operation 518 the work flow 500 drives analysis of the efficiency ofthe maintenance operations by prompting the work management system 334and the maintenance analysis module 516 for information on theefficiency. The efficiency analysis determines in general to what degreethe maintenance plan (i.e. maintenance strategy, maintenance routinesand maintenance schedules) is being performed. The maintenance analysismodule 516 collects information from the CMMS 312 and determinesinformation about the efficiency of the maintenance, for exampleincluding percent efficiency, utilization ratio, how many plannedactions were taken, how many unplanned actions were taken, and otherinformation.

At operation 520 the workflow 500 drives analysis of the effectivenessof the maintenance operations by prompting an equipment monitoring andanalysis module 524 for information on the effectiveness of themaintenance operations. The effectiveness analysis determines in generalto what degree the maintenance that is being performed is effective inmaintaining the installed potential 106. For example, the effectivenessanalysis may note that although scheduled maintenance is being performedon a component, the component still experiences frequent breakdowns. Theequipment monitoring and analysis module 524 monitors currentperformance and condition information for equipment and components ofthe system 200 received from the SCADA 304 and historical performanceand condition information for equipment and components of the system 200received from the day historian 310. The equipment monitoring andanalysis module 524 outputs information including mean time betweenfailure data, mean time to repair data, and other performance data 406and availability data 410.

At operation 528, the outputs of the efficiency analysis at operation518 and the effectiveness analysis at operation 520 are compared to theperformance standards set at operation 502. At operation 530, an actionis determined in view of the comparison between the efficiency andeffectiveness of the maintenance and the performance standards. If thereis no significant difference between the efficiency and effectiveness ofthe maintenance and the performance standards, the action taken may beto continue operating under the set maintenance strategies, maintenanceroutines, and maintenance schedules. Accordingly, operations return tooperation 512 and repeat as described above. If there is a significantdifference between the efficiency and effectiveness of the maintenanceand the performance standards, the action taken may be to update theperformance standards, update the maintenance strategies, update themaintenance routines, and/or update the maintenance schedules. Indeciding the action at operation 530, reference may be made to a rootcause analysis module 526 that receives input from the equipmentmonitoring and analysis module 524 and the maintenance analysis module516 to facilitate or perform root cause analysis for the disparitybetween the efficiency and effectiveness of the maintenance operationsand the performance standards. In some instances, the action can bedetermined automatically. Alternately, a decision-maker via thecollaborative decision-making module 232 can determine or can contributeto determining the action. If a decision-maker is involved indetermining the action, one or more of information about the differencebetween the efficiency and effectiveness of the maintenance operationsand the performance standards, possible actions determinedautomatically, and information from the root cause analysis module 526can be communicated to the decision-maker via the collaborativedecision-making module 232. The work flow 500 will prompt thedecision-maker to determine the action, thus driving the decision-makerin his part in me operation of the system 200. Additionally, through thecollaborative decision-making module 232, the decision-maker has accessto other information both current and historical about the operation ofthe reservoirs 202, wells 204, and processing and transport system 206.Whether the action is determined automatically or with input from thedecision-maker can depend on the magnitude of the difference between theefficiency and effectiveness of the maintenance operations and theperformance standards, the possible root cause determined by the rootcause analysis module 526, and/or other factors. Also, if the action isdetermined automatically, the decision-maker may review the action anddetermine to keep the automatically made action and/or make further ordifferent actions via the collaborative decision-making module 232.Depending on the action decided, automatically or by the decision-maker,operations may return to one or more of operation 502 to updateperformance standards, operation 506 to update maintenance strategies,operation 508 to update maintenance routines, and/or operation 510 toupdate maintenance schedules. Once an action has been implemented, thesystem 200 can operate to track changes in the operation of thereservoirs 202, the wells 204, the processing and transport system 206,and the system 200 to associate the changes with the respective actionsthat caused them. In this way, the system 200 enables analysis of theactions to see whether they were successful in realizing the enhancementopportunities.

Of note, some or all of the operations 512-530 can be performedautomatically, enabling management by exception from thedecision-makers. The operations may be performed continuously orsubstantially continuously, periodically in regular and/or irregularintervals or sometimes continuously and sometimes periodically. Incertain instances, one or more of the operations are performed in realtime. As discussed above, if the data is collected continuously orsubstantially continuously, in rapid enough time intervals (depending onthe type of data), or is real time data, the maintenance work flow 500can operate to determine differences between the efficiency andeffectiveness of the maintenance operations and the performancestandards, and can take corrective action substantially concurrentlywith the effects of the maintenance operations on the availablepotential 110 and operating potential 114. For example, if it isdetermined that a planned action was not implemented, substantiallyimmediate action can be taken to reschedule the action at operation 510.In another example, it may be determined that the operation of acomponent or equipment is indicative of a pending or occurring failure,and substantially immediate action can be taken to initiate a correctiveaction at operation 510.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an illustrative productions management workflow 900 that operates to manage the production operations of theupstream production system is schematically depicted. In exploiting anupstream production system, a high level production system (or asset)reference plan/philosophy 902 is developed that outlines, at a highlevel, the goals and general philosophy under which the upstreamproduction system is going to be operated. For example, theplan/philosophy 902 may outline that the upstream production system willbe operated to exploit available or assumed viable reserves by withinparticular reservoirs or zones, producing a specified rate of productionover a number of years, will be designed and/or operated at a particularcapacity, the developed or the assumed product characteristics, thecritical economic factors and assumptions consistent with the investmentdecision, the staffing levels and operating expenditure. Theseassumptions and parameters often change over the life of the upstreamproduction system and may impact the production model or productionsystem objectives and constraints.

At operation 904, a more directed production plan pertaining to a subsetof the planned upstream production system lifespan, for example a year,is determined using the production system model 228 in view ofproduction system reference plan/philosophy 902. In certain instances,the production plan may set one or more of operational objectives,assumed economic factors, operating expenditures available, capitalinvestment projects. These assumptions and parameters often change overthe period of the production plan and may impact the production model orproduction system objectives and constraints. At operation 906, usingthe determined production plan, work actions that will be performed overthe life of the upstream production system are set. The work actions areintended to maintain the upstream production system, operate andmaintain components and equipment. The initial work actions arecommunicated to the work management system 334 that coordinatesimplementing the initial work actions as discussed above. Productiontargets for the upstream production system are also set, for example,for use in production loss reporting (e.g. in work flow 700). Usingproduction system model 228, initial control set points are determinedfor the operation of the upstream production system and implemented.

At operation 908, the upstream production system is operated initiallybased on the control set points and work actions determined in operation906. Data about the operation of the upstream production system iscommunicated to the production surveillance module 604. Thereafter, atoperation 910, operational scenarios are run against the upstreamproduction system model 228 to determine the control settings and thecontrol settings implemented in accordance with the productionmanagement work flows 600/650. At operation 912, the production systemmodel 228 is maintained, for example, as described in the model update680.

The illustrative workflows described with reference to FIGS. 4-10 areprovided for example sake, and one or more or all of the work flows canbe changed or omitted. One or more or all of the illustrative workflowscan be performed at least partially concurrently or at different times,in any order or in no order. Moreover, one or more of the steps of theillustrative workflows can also be changed or omitted. One or more orall of the steps within a given illustrative workflow can be performedat least partially concurrently or at different times, in any order orin no order. In certain instances, the point of sale is prior to arefinery where the product is further processed from crude or rawproducts into end or near end products such as gas, diesel, heating oil,and/or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Some of the illustrative systems and methods described above enablesustained upstream production system wide improvements, and in someinstances optimization, of operations to extract, process and transportproduct from one or more reservoirs to one or more points of sale. Inthese illustrative systems and methods, closed loop systems operaterepeatedly to manage, and in some instances maximize, the performance ofone or more of the reservoirs, the wells and infrastructure, and thefacilities, the availability of equipment, materials, and personnel,and/or the operation of the reservoirs, the wells, and the processingand transport system.

Some of the illustrative systems and methods described above integratedata and analysis across the reservoirs, the wells and infrastructure,and the processing and transport system. Such integrated data andanalysis enables access to information that is normally not accessibletogether, as well as accounting for the impact of actions on one or allof the reservoirs, the wells and infrastructure and the processing andtransport system. The unique access to data from across the upstreamproduction system enables the decision-makers to identify synergiesbetween operations of the reservoir, the wells and infrastructure, andthe processing and transport system. The ability to account for theimpact of actions on one or all of the aspects of the upstreamproduction system enables more informed decisions on actions to realizeenhancement opportunities.

In some of the illustrative systems and methods described above,production data, availability data and performance data is monitored andenhancement opportunities identified automatically. Such monitoringallows decision-makers to manage by exception, i.e. only respond whentheir input is needed. Furthermore, in some instances, actions can bedetermined automatically, further increasing the decision-makers'ability to manage the upstream production system by exception.

In some of the illustrative systems and methods described above, actionstaken to realize enhancement opportunities are tracked fromidentification of the enhancement opportunity through to the changesresulting from the implementation of the action. By tracking theenhancement opportunities, actions and resulting changes, changes can beattributed to the actions taken, and it can be determined whether theaction was successful (and/or how successful) in realizing theenhancement opportunity.

In some of the illustrative systems and methods described above, dynamicworkflows are implemented to drive management of the upstream productionsystem. By driving management of the upstream production system, lagtimes between operations in managing the upstream production system arereduced, confusion stemming from determining the next step iseliminated, and decision-makers are freed-up from time consuming lowlevel management activities, such as regularly monitoring data forenhancement opportunities and day-to-day implementing the actions.

In some of the illustrative systems and methods described above, data issensed and/or processed in real time allowing decision-makers and theworkflows to identify and realize enhancement opportunitiessubstantially as the enhancement opportunities occur.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A computer implemented method executed by one or more processorscomprising: receiving data about operation of a well for extracting aproduct from a subterranean reservoir and about operation of aprocessing and transport system downstream of a well head and upstreamof a point of sale; automatically initiating and executing, using atleast one processor, an adjustment to modeling of the processing andtransport system continuously in response to the received data; andafter adjustment to the modeling of the processing and transport system,automatically outputting an instruction for, in response to the receiveddata, initiating in real time a corrective action to the processing andtransport system equipment downstream of the well head.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the processing and transport system comprises aproduction facility for processing the product upstream of a refineryand a gathering system for transporting the product from the well to thepoint of sale.
 3. The method of claim 1 further including receiving dataabout a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir and automaticallyinitiating and executing an adjustment to modeling of the reservoir inresponse to the received data.
 4. The method of claim 1 furtherincluding automatically initiating and executing an adjustment tomodeling of the well continuously in response to the received data. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein the data about operation of the processingand transport system comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure,temperature, or fluid composition.
 6. The method of claim 1 whereinreceiving the data comprises receiving the data in real time.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein adjusting the modeling comprises adjusting themodeling in real time.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the modelingcomprises at least one of first principal modeling, proxy modeling, orderived modeling.
 9. The method of claim 1 further including themodeling of one or more wells and wherein the modeling of the reservoirand the modeling of one or more wells is performed by a singleintegrated model of at least the reservoir and at least one or morewells.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the modeling of the reservoir,the one or more wells and the processing and transport system isperformed by a single integrated model of at least the reservoir, theone or more wells and the process and transport system.
 11. An articlecomprising a non transitory machine-readable medium storing instructionsoperable to cause one or more machines to perform operations,comprising: receiving data about operation of a well for extracting aproduct from a subterranean reservoir and about operation of aprocessing and transport system downstream of a well head and upstreamof a point of sale; automatically initiating and executing an adjustmentto modeling of the reservoir in response to the received data andautomatically initiating and executing an adjustment to modeling of theprocessing and transport system continuously in response to the receiveddata, and after adjustment to modeling of the processing and transportsystem, automatically outputting an instruction for, in response to thereceived data, initiating in real time a corrective action to theprocessing and transport system equipment downstream of the well head.12. The article of claim 11 wherein the processing and transport systemcomprises a production facility for processing the product upstream of arefinery and a gathering system for transporting the product from thewell to the point of sale.
 13. The article of claim 11 further includingreceiving data about a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir andautomatically initiating and executing an adjustment to modeling of thereservoir continuously in response to the received data.
 14. The articleof claim 11 further including automatically initiating and executing anadjustment to modeling of the well continuously in response to thereceived data.
 15. The article of claim 11 wherein the data aboutoperation of the processing and transport system comprises at least oneof flow rate, pressure, temperature, or fluid composition.
 16. Thearticle of claim 11 wherein receiving the data comprises receiving thedata in real time.
 17. The article of claim 11 wherein adjusting themodeling comprises adjusting the modeling in real time.
 18. The articleof claim 11 wherein the modeling comprises at least one of firstprincipal modeling, proxy modeling, or derived modeling.
 19. The articleof claim 11 further including the modeling of one or more wells andwherein the modeling of the reservoir and the modeling of one or morewells is performed by a single integrated model of at least thereservoir and at least one or more wells.
 20. The article of claim 11wherein the modeling of the reservoir and the processing and transportsystem is performed by a single integrated model of at least thereservoir and the process and transport system.
 21. A system,comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory coupled tothe at least one processor and storing instructions operable to causethe at least one processor to perform operations comprising: receivingdata about operation of a well for extracting a product from asubterranean reservoir and about operation of a processing and transportsystem downstream of a well head and upstream of a point of sale;automatically initiating and executing an adjustment to modeling of thereservoir in response to the received data and automatically initiatingand executing an adjustment to modeling of the processing and transportsystem continuously in response to the received data; and afteradjustment to the modeling of the processing and transport system,automatically outputting an instruction for, in response to the receiveddata, initiating in real time a corrective action to the processing andtransport system equipment downstream of the well head.
 22. The systemof claim 21 wherein the processing and transport system comprises aproduction facility for processing the product upstream of a refineryand a gathering system for transporting the product from the well to thepoint of sale.
 23. The system of claim 21 further including receivingdata about a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir andautomatically initiating and executing an adjustment to modeling of thereservoir continuously in response to the received data.
 24. The systemof claim 21 further including automatically initiating and executing anadjustment to modeling of the well continuously in response to thereceived data.
 25. The system of claim 21 wherein the data aboutoperation of the well comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure,temperature, or fluid composition.
 26. The system of claim 21 whereinreceiving the data comprises receiving the data in real time.
 27. Thesystem of claim 21 wherein adjusting the modeling comprises adjustingthe modeling in real time.
 28. The system of claim 21 wherein themodeling comprises at least one of first principal modeling, proxymodeling, or derived modeling.
 29. The system of claim 21 furtherincluding the modeling of one or more wells and wherein the modeling ofthe reservoir and the modeling of one or more wells is performed by asingle integrated model of at least the reservoir and at least one ormore wells.
 30. The system of claim 21 wherein the modeling of thereservoir and the processing and transport system is performed by asingle integrated model of at least the reservoir and the process andtransport system.